Being on trial for violations of one’s ordination vows seemed very surreal, but nothing like hearing the words “We find you guilty” eight times over! For what? For living under the authority of Jesus? No. For trusting the Scriptures and being led by essential tenets? No. For being governed by our church’s polity, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? No. There were but two issues behind all eight charges – agreeing with the HPPC Trustees that there was a civil liberty being violated by Grace Presbytery under a recent ruling in the Texas Supreme Court, and agreeing with the HPPC Session that there was a moral liberty being violated by Grace Presbytery in creating a policy that made it effectively impossible for the church to leave the denomination.

Dear Friends,

By now word has spread far and wide about my having been removed from ordained office by the Permanent Judicial Commission of Grace Presbytery acting in behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I was found guilty on eight charges with respect to my leadership as Moderator of the Session and congregational meetings during the time Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas conducted its own independent discernment process and eventually voted by an 89% margin to disaffiliate with the PCUSA. I was found not guilty on three other counts having to do with facilitating the dismissal of an Associate Pastor who wanted to stay in the denomination and thusly needed to find a new call.

In preparation for my trial I made a request of the PJC for a larger venue, knowing many, many friends had committed to stand with me. I was told the room for the trial would accommodate twenty-five observers, while I anticipated scores, if not hundreds of well wishers to attend – people who not only loved and supported my family and me, but also understood the significance of a pastor being defrocked solely on the basis of supporting a church in its process that circumvented the Presbytery’s policies and their understanding of certain provisions of the Book of Order.

The PJC denied my request. When I complained to the Stated Clerk, he replied, “Joe, this is just about you,” implying my trial was simply an internal matter for Grace Presbytery and of no importance to the larger church!

That statement to me was simply another indication of how out of touch many of the leaders have become regarding the state of the PCUSA and the unrest that resides in many congregations who have left the denomination or are considering the same. It is as if the Lord is saying once again, “Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.” Nothing is more sacred to many denominational leaders than fidelity to the institution. And nothing could be further from the truth in terms of importance. My trial illustrates the increasing dilemma for pastors who serve with the conviction of being under the ultimate authority of Christ as revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God, while many church leaders operate as if the ultimate authority is the Book of Order.

I am greatly encouraged by the number of people from whom I have heard who are seeking His voice. Increasing numbers are understanding the spiritual warfare raging within the PCUSA. They are listening for the voice of the Master, seeking discernment as to the proper course of action in response to Christ, the true Head of the Church, particularly in light of increasing measures by the bureaucracy to invoke law rather than Spirit in the PCUSA. They are asking what happened at HPPC? And why did Joe Rightmyer, whose forty-two years of ordained ministry was marked by a position of advocating renewal from within, consent to lead a congregation out?

I know of these questions because I have heard from you! I have been overwhelmed by letters and email written to me, articles about me, and questions of me. This is not because the trial was “just about me,” but rather due to the valiant attempts by many to faithfully fulfill their ordination vows and understand the implications if such obedience puts them at odds with the denominational bureaucrats. The question of the cost of discipleship is being asked again and again. And the questions deserve answers.

But before I share details of my personal discernment process, let me offer thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout the entire process and to you, the many who have reached out to my family and me. Your prayers and your timely words of encouragement were indeed like “apples of gold in settings of silver.” And now your cards and letters, calls and comments almost daily bring new tears of joy. I have felt God’s pleasure as your prayers were answered.

I am especially grateful to the congregation of Highland Park Presbyterian Church for the privilege afforded me as their pastor during this chapter in their corporate life. However, when all is said and done, work is evaluated by its fruitfulness. The hard decisions were made by others. The Session led the charge following a very prayerful and honest retreat that resulted in a unanimous vote to call a congregational meeting for consideration of disaffiliation. The Elders went into the retreat with broadly variant opinions and no lack of passion. So when the vote was taken and the result was unanimous, there first was a stunned silence that soon gave way to a deep sense of awe in the presence of God! It was an experience I hope I never forget, and that I wish could be shared by all Sessions throughout the PCUSA. It gave the Session great courage and brought great joy.

And now HPPC is united, strong, led by an incredibly gifted new and young pastor, and flourishing. The hallways are filled these days with joy and laughter. It has been a long time coming, but well worth the effort and the financial cost. And I know beyond the shadow of doubt that had Grace Presbytery led the process, the church would be splintered and its mission greatly diminished. But the Lord’s name be praised, 1991 was not revisited! Presbytery was kept out of the process and great unity was attained. God provided everything necessary for the success of His mission and the protection of His people.

That being said, let me explain some of the rationale behind my decision making process and share what God “told me in the darkness and whispered in my ears” (Matthew 10:27). I can honestly say that almost daily throughout this entire time frame the Lord awoke me before dawn and I sought Him in prayer. And, amazingly, I did “hear the Lord” on several specific occasions throughout the process. I want to share my story not because I seek anything for myself, but with the hope that others going through similar challenges may be encouraged to “hear the Lord” and experience the joy and peace that Christ provides.

On a very deep and personal level I wrestled with God over the matter of whether or not to respond affirmatively when asked if I would postpone my retirement and serve as the Interim Senior Pastor. I was questioning my leadership abilities, having served as the Executive Director of Presbyterians for Renewal for nine years, yet watching my denomination become anything but renewed. I truly felt like a failure. And if that were the case, I certainly did not want to harm the good people of HPPC by proclaiming a message and providing leadership that was seemingly ineffective.

So I took the matter to God in prayer. And here is what God “told me in the darkness and whispered in my ear.” God said, “Joe, you are looking at your experience all wrong. You were not a failure. You, along with many others in the PCUSA, took a strong stance on the authority of My Word and in 1996 the PCUSA stood with Me when it adopted its ordination standards of ‘fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman, and chastity in singleness.’ The church honored My Word in taking that stand, and I honored the PCUSA by keeping My restraining hand upon her. I have been protecting her in light of that action. But now the PCUSA has said it does not believe that anymore. She has rejected My Word. So I am removing my restraining hand from the denomination and giving it over to what it wants. Therefore, get my sheep in HPPC to safe pasture. Take them out and don’t look back.”

I was speechless before the Lord! It was such a clear word, yet so different from His instructions to me in prior years. As I mulled over what I had heard, renewed thoughts about marriage began to flood my mind. The Apostle Paul’s teaching about the “mystery of marriage” as it represents Christ and His Church suddenly loomed so large! The message in the Spirit transformed the conversation among God’s people from human sexuality and same sex unions to the very gospel itself! It dawned on me that to vary from a four thousand year understanding about marriage within God’s covenant people was to offer a false gospel, the epitome of which is seen in homosexuality – offering a form of “life” without the possibility of reproducing true life! There is but one source of true life and that is Jesus Christ. His seed, implanted by the Holy Spirit in the womb of His bride, the Church, is a message well worth preserving!

To offer anything other to the world is a false gospel. I realized why Christ would instruct me to get his sheep to safe pasture – especially for the sake of the children and grandchildren who would be subjected to contrary teaching if the Presbytery controlled the property (i.e. controlled the pulpit!). The leadership in Grace Presbytery had already made it clear that they would only support a new pastor at HPPC who subscribed to their “big tent” philosophy; that is, “tolerant” of a broad view of theological perspectives and sexual conduct. But “big tents” are the centerpiece of a circus, not the church. The way of Christ is still narrow and the gate is small that leads to eternal life.

Once God’s Spirit confirmed in my spirit that I had heard His voice, I said yes to the role and responsibility of serving as Interim Senior Pastor. But I realized I needed a clear set of values that could easily be communicated as the rationale behind any leadership decisions I would make. The internal discernment process that soon followed was not the recurrence of that “voice,” but rather convictions that grew stronger and stronger in my heart and mind.

Read the entire letter in pdf format by clicking here.

Read Joe Rightmyer’s “Last Sermon as a Teaching Elder in the PCUSA” (pdf file)
First delivered by Joe Rightmyer before the PJC of Grace Presbytery on January 6, 2015, in a more abbreviated form. This expanded version is dated February, 2015, following requests for the content of his message.

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